Date: Sunday, 2 Adar II 5765 (March 13, '05)

Speaker: Dr. Frank Vallentin (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)

Title: "Sphere coverings in dimensions 1 to 24"

Abstract:
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The sphere covering problem asks for the most efficient way of
covering d-dimensional Euclidean space by equal overlapping spheres.
In my talk I will give a survey on the best known sphere coverings in
dimension 1 to 24. This includes a complete systematic solution of the
lattice covering problem (here the centers of the spheres are supposed
to form a lattice) up to dimension 5, the systematic exploration of
new best known lattice coverings in dimension 6 to 8, and a proof that
the famous Leech lattice is at least locally optimal for lattice
sphere coverings in dimension 24.

This is joint work with Achill Schuermann.